For the last 6 months I've been focusing on making wearables other than scarves, coats and vests. Working with silk is challenging - particularly the gossamer silk paj I've been using for my blouses and skirts. It's slippery and damages easily so there's a small margin of error with mistakes. Once you've sewn it once, you pretty much can't rip stitches to correct or it will show in the fabric. Ironing over the old stitch marks does help, but it's best to be accurate the first time.

Monday, 11 April 2011

In between dyepots and sewing samples for my summer line, I'm weaving an all black warp at the moment. I stick to plainweave using black or white merino yarn - not very exciting to the serious weaver, but a means to an end for me! The white yarn I dye afterwards, and the black yarn I discharge to remove colour.

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

This is me in my old studio at Georgia and Jackson. Behind me is this fantastic front display window from when the space had been a butcher shop - I can't believe none of us ever took advantage of it to make elaborate installations... but who had the time??

And that clunky, old loom. What to do about that loom? It's a 45 inch Leclerc with bent heddles and unbalanced shafts. It was given to me by a veteran senior's home out in Burnaby - it's probably at least 50 years old and has been used to weave hundreds of yards of cloth, mostly by men who served in WWII. Mostly by men who were heroes, and who are dead or really old by now - which makes it difficult for me to pass it on. I feel the pressure of that legacy! But fact is, it's just too big for my studio and since I only weave scarves on it, there's no sense in having a loom that wide. Maybe I'll meet a beginner rug weaver - any out there looking for a loom?

About Me

twofolds textiles are the work of Jen Candela, who dyes, designs and sews pieces by hand in her studio in Vancouver, BC. Jen studied textile arts at Capilano University from 2001 – 03, and weaving at Place des Arts in 2006 – 07. She has exhibited at various galleries in BC, and currently sells through stores in Vancouver.